Acceleration Calculator
Acceleration is how fast velocity changes: a = (v − u) ÷ t. Enter starting velocity, ending velocity, and the time taken — the default is a car going 0–60 mph in 6 seconds.
Example: with Initial velocity u 0 · Final velocity v 60 · Velocity unit (u and v) mph · Time taken (seconds) 6 · Mass in kg (optional, for force) 1500 → Acceleration: 4.47 m/s².
Computed by the calculator below using its default values. Change any input to see your own numbers.
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Check it outHow to calculate acceleration
The formula for acceleration is a = (v − u) ÷ t: final velocity minus initial velocity, divided by the time the change took. A car going 0–60 mph in 6 s changes velocity by 26.82 m/s (60 mph × 0.44704), so a = 26.82 ÷ 6 = 4.47 m/s² — about 0.46 g. The unit is meters per second squared because you divide a velocity (m/s) by seconds.
Newton’s second law ties acceleration to force: F = ma, so producing that 4.47 m/s² in a 1,500 kg car takes roughly 6,706 N of net force — and when you know force and mass instead, flip it to a = F ÷ m. Average acceleration works the same way over any interval: total velocity change divided by total time. A negative answer simply means the object is slowing down.
How it’s calculated
Acceleration a = (v − u) ÷ t, with u and v converted to m/s first (1 mph = 0.44704 m/s, 1 km/h = 1 ÷ 3.6 m/s, 1 ft/s = 0.3048 m/s). The g-force row divides a by standard gravity g = 9.80665 m/s² (CGPM value), and the force row applies Newton’s second law F = m × a with mass in kilograms, giving newtons.
Results update as you type and are estimates, not professional advice — verify important decisions with a qualified professional.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting to convert to m/s first — 0 to 100 km/h in 10 s is 2.78 m/s², not 10 m/s².
- Swapping u and v — acceleration is final minus initial, so braking correctly comes out negative (deceleration).
- Reporting m/s instead of m/s² — acceleration is the rate velocity changes, not a velocity.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for acceleration?
a = (v − u) ÷ t: the change in velocity divided by the time it takes. Its SI unit is meters per second squared (m/s²).
How do you find acceleration with force and mass?
Rearrange Newton’s second law: a = F ÷ m. A 10 N net force on a 2 kg mass produces 10 ÷ 2 = 5 m/s².
What is average acceleration?
Total change in velocity divided by total elapsed time. Going from 10 m/s to 30 m/s over 8 s is (30 − 10) ÷ 8 = 2.5 m/s², whatever happened in between.
Can acceleration be negative?
Yes — slowing from 30 m/s to 10 m/s in 4 s gives (10 − 30) ÷ 4 = −5 m/s². Negative just means velocity is decreasing.
How many m/s² is 1 g?
One g is 9.80665 m/s², the standard acceleration of gravity. The default answer here, 4.47 m/s², is about 0.46 g.